Folding cot.



M. S. KARPEN.

FOLDING COT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1913.

1,, 74,954. Patented 001;. 7, 1913.

3 sums-sum 1.

M. S. KARPEN.

FOLDING GOT.

'APPLIOATION FILED APR.24,71913. 531,074,954. Patented 0012.7,1913. I m a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I, s" N]:

N O \K N c\ I 1 J i Q i'""" w n? R N g Ill m E? m Q R w J L a MARTIN S. KARPEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING- COT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

Application filed April 2a, 1913. Serial No. 763,302.

1/ 'o (M whom 2'25 may colwcm Be it known that I, MARTIN S. KARrnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Cots, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to a cot which is adapted to be compactly folded to enable it to be shoved under a bed, or be stored in any available space.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap structure of the character indicated, which can be readily manipulated in the folding and unfolding operations, and which is durable in use.

The invention is illustrated in the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a cot constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the cot in folded condition; Fig. 3, a view partly in plan and partly in section, the section being taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an end elevational view of the cot; Fig. 5, a broken perspective view showing a corner of the frame of the structure; Fig. 6, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 1, and showing a detail of the means employed for locking the folding head-standard in the vertical position; Fig. 7, a broken sectional view, showing, in detail, the locking mechanism which appears in Fig. 4; and Fig. 8, a section taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 6.

In the form illustrated, the invention comprises a rectangular frame A which supports a flexible bed-bottom, or wire fabric, A; a pair of folding legs 13 connected with each end of the frame A; a folding headpiece, or standard, 0 mounted on each end of the frame A; links D pivotally connected with the legs and slidably connected with the side rails of the frame A; links D pivotally connected with the standards C and with the inner end-portions of the links D; and locking means E adapted to look the structure in the open or extended position.

The frame A may be of any suitable construction. As shown, it comprises angle,- form side rails 1 and angle-form end rails 2. Each side rail has a downturned flange 1 and an int-urned flange 1 Each end rail has an upturned flange 2 and an inturned flange 2", the inturned flanges 2 resting on the inturned flanges l and suitably riveted thereto.

The flexible bed-bottom A may be of any suitable construction. It is shown as a link fabric of well-known form, whose end portions are connected, by helical springs 3, with the upturned flanges 2 of the end rails.

At each corner of the frame is a short standard t, which may be of sheet metal. The standard f has its base portion secured, by rivets 5, to the downturned flange 1 of the side rail. The corner standards a are preferably connected in pairs near their upper ends by cross-pieces 6. The crosspieces 6 are of hollow rectangular crosssection, and have their end portions equipped with flanges G, which are connected, by rivets (3 to the corner-pieces 4t.

Each pair of legs B is preferably formed by bending a metal bar into U-shape, thus affording the vertical or leg portions 7, and the cross-piece or web 7 a at the lower ends of the legs. The upper ends of the legs are connected, by pivots 7", with the lower outer corners of the members 4. The lower ends of the legs are equipped with casters 7, which preferably are of angular form and have their rollers 7 disposed outside of the planes of the legs 7, as viewed in Fig. 1. Thus, the casters will support the legs in the standing position in such manner as to tend to prevent collapse of the structure, and they will also support the structure in the folded condition, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each folding standard, or head-piece, O preferably comprises a U-shaped bar having the cross-piece or web portion 8 and the arms 8 The lower ends of the arms 8 are connected, by pivots S with the corner pieces l. The corner pieces 4: are provided, just above the cross-piece 6, with perforations 9 adapted to register with perforations 9" with which the arms 8 are provided near the pivots 8 The links D have their outer ends connected, by pivots 10, with the legs 7 at a distance below the pivots 7 and said links D are provided with slots 11 which engage studs 11" that project laterally from the side rails 1 some distance from the ends thereof. The links D are curved edgewise, so as to be of elbow-form. They have their upper ends connected, by pivots 12, with the arms 8 of the standards C; and they have their lower ends connected, by pivots 13, with the inner ends of the links D.

The locking means E may be of any suitable construction. As shown, this means comprises a pair of locking plungers, or bolts, 14L, disposed above the cross-piece 6, and supported by guide-members 15 and 16. The outer ends of the plungers 1a are rounded, or bluntly pointed, as indicated at 14. The inner ends of the plungers 14k are equipped with upwardly projecting thumbpicces 149. The guide 16 is mounted on the central portion of the crosspiece 6 and constitutes a housing for a coiled spring 17 which is confined between the arms 14t with which the plungers are equipped at their,

extendin oaeration. This is accomplished a l a in the form illustrated, by striking the metal of the arms 8 outwardly, or away from the corner pieces l, at the outer edges of said arms, as indicated at S), the outwardly struck portions 5,) affording cams which serve to engage the rounded extremities of the locking plungers 1e and thus retract the locking plungers automatically when the standard C is thrust to the vertical posi-v tion. lVhen the vertical position is reached, the locking plungers, actuated by the spring 17, enter the registering perforations 9 and 9 of the corner pieces a and the arms 8 thus locking the structure in the extended position.

When it is desired to fold the structure, the operator grasps the thumbpieces 1d of the locking means E, compresses the spring 17, thus withdrawing the locking plungers, and then folds the standard O inwardly, in which operation, the links D are thrust inwardly, thus causing the links D to slide on the studs 11 and fold the legs. In the reverse operation, the operator lifts the standard C to thestanding position, in which operation the legs are thrown to the standing position and the locking plungers are caused to automatically lock the structure in the extended position. In the illustration given, the operative devices at each end of the structure are independent of, or unconnected with those at the other end of the structure, so that it will be understood that in the arrangement shown it is necessary to manipulate each end of the structure separately. As noted above, the position of the caster-rollers T is such that the structure tends to maintain itself in the standing position. It is preferred, however, to provide separate locking mechanism for locking each folding standard and the pair of legs connected therewith in the extended position.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isi '1. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a bed-frame, folding standards mounted on the end portions thereof, folding legs connected with the end portions of said frame, links pivotally connected with said legs and slidably connected with the side members of said frame, and elbow-links pivotally. connected with said standards and with the inner ends of said first named links.

2. In a structure of the character set forth, 7

the combination of a bed-frame standards foldably mounted on the end portions thereof, legs foldably connected with the en d portions of said frame, link mechanism connecting said standards, frame and legs, whereby the legs will be automatically actuated in the operations of folding and unfolding the standards, locking plungers mounted on the bedframe, and cam devices on the folding standards adapted to retract the locking plungers in the operation of unfolding the structure.

3. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a bed-frame equipped at its corners with upwardly projecting members, standards pivotally connected with said members, said standards and said members provided with looking perforations adapted to register in the extended position of the structure, locking plungers mounted on the bed-frame and co-acting with said locking perforations, legs pivotally connected with the corner portions of the bed-frame, links pivotally' connected with said legs and slidably connected with said bed-frame, and

links pivotally connected with said stand-e ards and with said first-named links.

MARTIN S. KARPEN. In presence of D. C. THORSEN, L. HEISLAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

